In part one of the series, we started the process of creating a game character. We began with a rough description of the character. The ideas in the description were turned into a basic shape. From this shape we evolved the character into a front and side view.

Because our goal was to provide a character that anyone at nearly any skill level could attempt to model, we chose a more inorganic form for our enemy character. If you would like to challenge yourself, you can add additional depth and detail to the character. You can also challenge yourself by creating a less detailed low-polygon model and focus on the texturing to bring out higher levels of detail. In this tutorial segment we are going to add a bit more detail to our design so that it can be modeled in 3D or drawn in 2D.

We’ve upgraded our original sketch to add some information about the scale of the Mark IV Decimator. The relative scale of all of the parts of your game world is extremely important. Scale builds on our real world experiences to give players inside the game an idea about how powerful or how dangerous enemies are and how they might behave. Players might expect that a larger, heavier looking object will be probably slow moving and well armored. This is exactly the feeling we want to convey about our game character.

From the character blurb it is clear the designer wants the machines in the game world to loom large against a player. The Mark IV is taller and wider than an average residential door. We have a good idea of the Mark IV’s height and width but what does it look like from above? If our game is going to exist in a 3D world, a modeler will need some idea of not just the front and side view but also what it will look like from the top and bottom.

To keep our character simple, we will assume that the Mark IV’s right and left sides look the same and the front and back surfaces are also largely the same. Even with these simplifications there are elements that we simply cannot guess from just a front and side view. For this reason, a 3D good concept art sheet should include a front, side and top view. In cases where all six planes of the object are different and important, the more detail that you can provide the better your asset will be. Even if you are doing the modeling yourself, having a good set of initial blueprints for your design will help speed up the process and allow you to create design variations (Hint: the Mark IV is a modular killing machine. It probably has other variants that can deal with heroes that feel they are unstoppable!)

In part III of the series, in the last big step before modeling, we’ll look at describing moving parts and details in the model/art asset.

The process of creating a game character can be daunting. From the initial concept sketch to animating a game character can seem like a mysterious process. We’ll be looking at the process and a number of technologies that can be used create game characters in 2D and 3D. To start, we’ll need a fairly simple character design that is relatively easy to create in a range of tools. We’re fortunate to have access to a character design for education use. The Mark IV Decimator is a robust hero stopping machine with a wide range of upgrades.

Unless you are an artist, the process often starts with a short blurb. This blurb can be super simple or complex. It’s often best to have a simple blurb for communicating with a team and a one long enough to keep the ideas coherent in your own mind. We’ll start from a character blurb from the character creator.

Standing over eight feet tall, the hulking mechanized giant was nearly as wide as it was tall. Composed of a jagged patchwork of oxidized replacement parts and armor its true age was seemingly impossible to know. It was old, angular and massive with a singular optical stalk as its only distinguishing feature. The fearsome Mark IV seemed to glide about a foot above the ground on strange coils that relentlessly folded dust and gravel back into a churning mist that was flattened by the sheer displacement of the undulating machine at the center of the ankle high toroid.

From the character blurb, the basic ideas of this character were distilled down to a sketch.

In part II of the series, we’ll look at fleshing out the sketch with additional views and modeling data.

The inaugural issue of the VGA Reader is looking for submissions. Published by Chicago’s innovative Video Game Art Gallery, the new journal will explore the art form of video games including the “history, theory, and criticism of video games.” The first issue is slated to be available in summer 2017.

The deadline for submissions for the first issue of the VGA Reader is January 23, 2017.

Possible topics include but are not limited to:

Analysis of video game genres and platforms, both emerging and historical

Analysis and documentation of significant experiments in avant-garde video games

Analysis of issues pertaining to representations, gender performance, sexuality, class, and race in video games

Analysis and critique of gaming culture(s), of gaming and consumer habits as a whole, or of a specific franchise or trend

The public exhibition of video games in museums, galleries, festivals, conventions, and arcade bars

Investigations and descriptions of video game development, design, and authorship

Analysis of existing video game criticism, reviews, advertising, and marketing

Gamification and how it functions in both the humanities and sciences

Analysis of the function of video games in culture and society

The formation of new communities, institutions, and contexts for video games

Analysis of the development of virtual and physical communities in video games, gaming culture, and the politics of video game spaces

Looking to bring your game creation to Android? Yo Yo Games massively popular GameMaker: Studio Professional has a 66% sale on the Android Exporter for this weekend only. Just in time to start your 2016 projects, you can grab the Android Exporter for only $99 USD.Source

For developers evaluating controllers for experimental and upcoming VR games, the VirZOOM Controller is certainly worth keeping an eye on in 2016. The VirZOOM allows gamers to pedal to propel themselves within the virtual gaming world. Steering the VirZOOM is handled by tracking the head mounted display (HMD) in your design. Photos from the VirZOOM blog of the alpha version of the controller include action buttons on the bike’s handle bars. According to the official frequently asked questions page a “VirZOOM Beta will be available in limited quantities in Q1 2016.”

To find out more about the VirZOOM and follow the project’s development visit the VirZOOM site.

Looking for a way to test your game development skills? The N Square Game Jam invites regional game students and professionals to make games for social impact specifically addressing nuclear weapons disarmament. The Game Jam will begin Saturday November 14 @ 10:00am and run though Sunday November 15 @ 6.00pm.

Participants will divide into teams spend up to 48 hours in creative brainstorming and rapid prototyping sessions. To encourage participation from the widest audience, each event will include games of all formats, such as: live role-playing games, tabletop and board games, and, of course, digital games.

Teams will collaborate on conceptualizing, designing, and prototyping their game experience in the span of the 2-day event concluding in pitch presentations by participating teams. Design teams would have the opportunity to present their games to representatives from N Square and G4C, who will select one or more winning teams to be recognized with a modest prize.